An Hoberman sphere that does not expand at the poles. The expansion of each segment increases gradually as the equator is approached. If each segment were under a small amount of tension causing it to want to stay collapsed, then the whole would stay sphere shaped until spun fast enough to cause it to assume a disk shape.
Small tabs along the equator would let you flick the ball which would then fly like a Frisbee until the tension and decreased rotation turn it back into a ball.

I debated whether to post this as a toy or as a spacecraft design, Round in space, and disk shaped for atmospheric flight.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 01 2003

Hoberman sphere http://www.hoberman...Liberty/liberty.htm
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Phlatball.com http://www.phlatball.com/index.asp
[2 fries shy of a happy meal, May 06 2006]

Would it have an open center like disk in the link? You could throw it over someones head so it strangles that person after spining down. A whole new class of Ninja weapons!
-- kbecker, Sep 02 2003


Nope.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 03 2003


My brother for his birthday got this toy which is in the shape of a disk. well actually more of a star like shape which doesn't have pointed edges. Anyway, when you throw it hard enough it flies through the air and the disk turns into a ball. All you have to do is press down on the top and bottom of the ball and it returns to the disk shape thing.

I know this is not a very good explanation of the toy so i can understand if people have no idea what i'm talking about.
-- Mind_Boggle, Sep 03 2003


[Mind Boggle] does the toy have a name, or can you remember the company?
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 03 2003


my bro had one of these once...can't recall the name, although it did work like a parallel if the Hoberman sphere were a globe.
-- benlevi7, Sep 03 2003


sorry, can't remember the name, i'll keep my eye out for it though. I'm not sure where it is at the moment. If i had to take a guess, i would say it was made by that company "Moose" or something like that. The guys that make crazy putty and all those other little toy thingies
-- Mind_Boggle, Sep 03 2003


Don't ask why I know this, but I'm pretty sure you're referring to a "Flatball" [Mind_Boggle].
-- RoboBust, Sep 03 2003


Yeah, that's probably it
-- Mind_Boggle, Sep 03 2003


I googled Flatball and couldn't find anything other than extreme Frisbee pics.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 04 2003


You might chance upon flatball pics if you visit a fatchix-on-top site.
-- thumbwax, Sep 08 2003


Could you link your favorite?
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Sep 08 2003


Well that was totally uncalled for wasn't it, sorry [thumbwax]
I saw what you guys are talking about the other day, (took long enough to get here). The reason it never came up on a search is that it's a Phlat ball. [link] For what it's worth, I swear I never saw one of these before this.
-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, May 06 2006



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